West Des Moines Holiday Stress? Eat Walnuts!
Stressed out over the holidays? Eat walnuts! They’re a holiday kind of nut. They come in all sorts of flavors and in all sorts of holiday treats. (And if they’re not in your family recipe, put them in them this year!) Research connects the gut and the brain, so it makes sense that if the brain is stressed, the gut is, too. Researchers now watch the effects of calming the gut and the stomach to calm the brain. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa tempts our West Des Moines stressed-out patients, families, and friends to try eating some walnuts (unless there is an allergy!) to find their calm! The West Des Moines chiropractic care plan embraces all sorts of good tips like this!
THE GUT BRAIN AXIS AND STRESS
A recent study based on earlier studies that linked the brain, the gut and the gut microbiota and the beneficial effect of consuming walnuts on mental health tested stressed out college students. Academic stress was linked with poorer mental health in college students, with their choices of foods, their poorer gut microbiota, and their moods. More females than males participated, but researchers recorded that walnut consumption improved these metabolic and stress markers. Researchers concluded that eating walnuts may well be protective against academic stress. (1) Let’s see how well it translates to holiday stress!
BENEFITS OF WALNUTS ON OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
Holiday parties and events affect normal eating patterns for many of us, making changes in our blood tests and other issues. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows! An analysis of published research on walnut consumption since 2017 reported that eating walnuts improved lipid profiles and decreased cardiovascular disease risk. Further, more and more studies are being published about other benefits like improved cognitive health, inflammation reduction, glucose level regulation, body weight decrease, etc. (2) Fortunately, walnuts appear in many holiday goodies!
WALNUTS AND COGNITION
Other research has documented the influence of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation on aging, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s another brain disorders, all issues that progress over a long period of time. Eating walnuts for a long-time may delay or slow their appearance due to walnuts’ protective role against inflammation and oxidative stress. (3) There is an actual study called the Walnuts and Health Aging study based on previous research documenting that walnut consumption counteracted oxidative stress and inflammation, recognized contributors to cognitive decline. An fMRI study of participants after 2 years’ consumption found that the trial didn’t seem to affect healthy elders but suggested a delay in subgroups at higher risk of cognitive decline. (4) A delay in cognitive decline is good!
ADD SOME WALNUTS TO YOUR CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH PLAN
Let the researchers continue their research while we do our own! Try the theory yourself. Enjoy a few walnuts this West Des Moines holiday season. Plain. Candied. Spicy. Cinnamon coated. Choose your favorite! Like they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Executive Chiropractic of Iowa might suggest “A walnut a holi-day may well calm you and keep you a bit healthier and a bit jollier!” Happy holidays!
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the benefits of gentle, safe chiropractic treatment with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management incorporation on the nervous system.
Make your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment now. Bring us your holiday stress…and your favorite tasty walnut treat!
